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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

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I don't know how long I slept, but when I woke up again my head was clearer and my stomach was settled. I felt hungry and thirsty. I went to the wall and knocked again. Cassie knocked back. We wanted to talk but had nothing to say. We had to wait until someone told us why they had taken us or what they wanted from us.

I'm not sure how long I paced around my room before the door opened. "Come," Henson said, standing back to let me pass. He grabbed my upper arm and pulled me down a hallway. He stopped outside what looked like a conference room and pushed me inside. "Sit." He closed the door and locked it.

A few minutes later, the door opened and Henson pushed Cassie in just as he had me. I stood up and hugged her. "Are you OK?" I asked.

"Yeah. You?"

"I think so. Have you seen anyone?"

"The guy that brought you here is Henson. He got pissed because I threw up on his pants. There was another guy. I think he's the one in charge. He's tall with dark hair. I'm starving."

"Me, too."

The door opened and four men walked in—two of them carrying trays. "Ladies, feel free to eat while we talk," the tall man said. "We need you at your best."

"Who is we exactly?" Cassie asked

"We are a group of investors who want to get back the property that was stolen from us."

I was listening but shoveling food into my mouth as fast as I could chew. I would have killed for a cup of tea, but I hoped I wouldn't have too. "Any chance I could get a cup of tea?"

"Henson, get the lady a cup of tea." Henson glared at me but left the room.

"Mr. Uhm. I'm sorry I don't know your name," Cassie said.

"Let's keep it that way."

"You look like a smart man, I'm sure you know the penalty for assaulting and kidnapping a federal agent. What do you want from us?"

"I believe one or both of you know the location of the bigfoot family that was stolen from the BITES lab in Idaho. I paid Wilhelm a lot of money. I need to see a return on that investment."

"I'm afraid Dr. Wilhelm is going to be out of circulation for the next twenty years or so," Cassie said.

"I know you were involved in that too, but I'm not concerned about Wilhelm. Ms. Mason, I'd like you to lead my men to the bigfoot family."

"I'm sorry. I can't do that," I said between bites.

"Why, because your boyfriend wouldn't like it? We know you're not a fan of these creatures. You can tell him you were forced. I can arrange for you to have some injuries to back up that story."

"Thanks, but I still couldn't lead you to the location."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't know where it is?"

"My intel says you're the one who found the coordinates."

"That's true."

He slapped both hands down on the table making me jump. "Enough. Can you lead my team to the location of the stolen bigfoot?"

"No."

"Let me have an hour alone with her. I'll convince her?" Henson said.

"I can't tell you what I don't know."

"What about you, Ms. Carter? Do you know the location?"

"No. I don't."

He said nothing for a few minutes, as Cassie and I kept eating. "Take them back to their rooms," he said as he stood and walked out.